Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty
The corset is tight but not restrictive of my breathing or movement, accentuating the curvature of my waist and my full hips accompanied with the skinny jeans. I didn’t realize just how full my bosom is until now, spilling just the right amount over the top of the corset to be flattering. The thin straps accent my thin collarbones, making them appear that much more delicate. My skin does look a bit pale against the maroon color, making the freckles that dance across my face more prominent than usual. Still, I have no intention to apply makeup to cover them up today.

I turn around to admire the skin-tight jeans, highlighting the roundness of my backside. The outfit may be a bit much for studying, but I need the boost of confidence that the outfit brings me. I secure the black leather belt, further sinching my waist with the golden accent of the buckle. The serpent choker on my throat matches the small gold hoop earrings that I fasten to my ears, offering just the right amount of accessories for the outfit. I admire my reflection for a moment longer before deciding to free my hair from its bun, after all, deciding against showing quite so much of my shoulders without Ascian around.

I clip my hair in a half-up style and give my reflection a nod of approval, twisting the curls that frame my face into a better pattern. “Alright, let’s go,” I say, calling Arcane towards the door. She remained lounging on the bed while I dressed and offers a moan of protest as I motion her from the bed. She stretches half of her body onto the floor dramatically as she complies, shaking to remove the sleep from her muscles.

I place my palm against the grain of the door experimentally, watching in amazement as the familiar shimmer of magic pulses around my hand like a cloak, curious of the touch. My ring hums against my skin at the contact, causing an array of tingles to kiss each inch of my body. I shiver and reach to unbolt the door, overwhelmed by the pure feeling that it evokes, washing over my entirety. It’s addicting, but I know better than to give in to the pull that would plunge me in completely. I swing the door open to reveal the same hallway that I entered last night, meaning that the room hasn’t migrated since then. With any luck, it will remain stationary for the next few days until I can get used to locating it on my own.

“Gods, what are you wearing?” A voice startles me, making me turn my head in search of the owner. There is no one else in the corridor, though I can feel a presence beside me, standing just beside the door frame. The voice definitely belongs to Toshiro, which means that he’s made himself invisible again.

I swat at the air beside me, surprised when I actually make contact with something. The white and gold marble of the wall flickers as something invisible moves, revealing the outline of a body that shimmers ever so slightly with magic. With the blink of an eye, the empty space is replaced with Toshiro, who stands glaring at me, holding his arm dramatically. “What are you doing?” I interrogate him with a frown, allowing Arcane to exit the room before I pull the door closed.

“Guarding, obviously. That is my job, need I remind you?” Toshiro gives me a bemused expression as Arcane attempts to rub against his torso in a friendly greeting. One look from him causes her to sigh and return to my side, seeking consoling from being snubbed. I scratch her neck apologetically, but don’t take my eyes off of Toshiro. In the daylight, I can see the energy field around him if I focus on the outline of his shoulders, his head, his ears. His whole body seems to emanate an aura unlike Ascian’s or even Mirin, who I practiced on yesterday. Magic usually looks like a translucent golden or silver color, but the energy that swirls around Toshiro is a deep purple, the color of royalty. Being a god, I was expecting something similar to Ascian considering their similarity in power levels. “Could you stop staring at me now? I know I’m alluring, but it’s kind of creeping me out.”

I focus on his face again, giving him a bored look. “Oh, please. I’m looking at your aura, not you. Why didn’t you just come back inside, instead of waiting out here all night? Or just go to your own room? You do sleep, don’t you?”

Toshiro rolls his eyes at my quizzing, always acting as though I should know the answers already. “I was never assigned a room. Besides, sleep is optional for me, so I assume Dear Ascian did not offer me a bed because he wants me to stand guard all night. It’s very inhospitable of him, truly,” He complains as we begin to walk, falling into step beside me. “Actually, I am impressed that you can see magic already. Tell me, what does mine look like?” He tests me, raising an eyebrow.

I shoot him a condescending look, resting a hand on Arcane’s shoulder as we walk, assuming that we’re heading for the library. “It’s purple. You can’t enter the room without me, can you? That’s why you were slinking in the hallway outside, right?”

Toshiro snorts, casting me a look. “Well, yes. As I mentioned earlier, only you and Ascian are allowed to enter. Anyone else must be accompanied by one of you to pass the threshold.”

I chew the inside of my cheek thoughtfully. “What if something happens while I’m inside? I could slip and hit my head or drop dead of heart failure or something. There must be a way for you to enter on your own.”

“There is,” He admits with a noncommittal shrug. “But it would require you to have more knowledge on spellwork and glamour. I would need to hold something of yours that you infused with your own magic. However,” He adds, giving me a pointed look. “I would assume that Ascian cast his magic intentionally, meaning that he does not want anyone but himself to have free entry, including me. It may be going against his wishes to poke a hole in it.”

I consider the possibility for a moment before brushing his concern off with a wave. “If that’s the case, then I’ll handle it when he returns. As for now, it would make me feel more comfortable knowing that you can enter on your own if need be.” I know exactly what amount of trust I’m giving him by saying that, but I decided last night that I do trust him within a certain boundary. I have more faith in him than anyone else here, at least, which is all the reason I feel necessary to make my decision. If Ascian has enough credence in Toshiro enough to entrust him with my safety in this palace of monsters, then that’s enough for me.

Toshiro raises his brow slightly, showing his surprise for the ease with which I admit my faith in him. I’m glad to see that his attire is more modern today as well, though he sticks to the black theme. He’s wearing a less formal kimono-style outfit, though his hair is in a similar style to keep it out of his face. “Very well, if you insist on accepting the consequences, I can show you how to find the loophole within the spell.”

“You know how to use magic?” I ask with an unconvinced look. I suppose that a god would be capable of something like that, especially if it’s simple enough for a human such as myself to learn. My eyes involuntarily dart to the katana at his side, which doesn’t escape his notice.

Toshiro snorts humorously as we turn a corner. The corridors are also suspiciously empty again today, making our voices the only sounds that echo to the tall ceilings. “Of course. Though be warned, Kitsune magic is much different from that of the Faeries. That’s why my aura is different. Surely you can sense it now, too, since you’re advancing so quickly.” His words strike me as a compliment, which takes me off guard. He seems too self-absorbed to distribute them so freely, so I hang onto it.

It’s true that after his display of ascendancy last night upon denying my request to elaborate on his realization why I might have the Sight against all odds, which made me realize that he is a force to be reckoned with. He does hold a different sort of power that even the Fae don’t hold over me, other than Ascian. Even then, I mostly heed his requests out of respect for what he is to me. Last night, however, was a completely primal urge to submit to Toshiro’s warning. I’ve never experienced such a thing before and it left me feeling strangely shaken. “Yes,” I admit, lowering my voice at the memory. “I know it’s very unique.”